Big Little Small Talk

This week on Big Little Small Talk, we bring you an interview with Merrilyn Strohfeldt recorded in November 2021 before her retirement in December that year wrapping up a four year tenure as CEO of Darling Downs & West Moreton PHN.

Megan will return soon with brand new episodes of Big Little Small Talk, but in the meantime we hope you enjoy this interview from our archives.

When Katrina Christensen left school she studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. Today she works as a train driver. There have been plenty of adventures and career changes along the way for Katrina, all told with humour and insight.

Children’s illustrator Lucia Masciullo comes from an adventuring family. Her grandmother climbed the Italian alps in the 1920’s. When Lucia read the manuscript for “Eat my Dust”, she knew she wanted to illustrate it. It tells the story of brave hearts Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell who raced, in 1928 across Australia in their Lancia Lambda. Their competitors were all men.

Bishop Cameron Venables grew up in Wales. As a young man, he traveled to PNG to do youth work. He later went to Brisbane to study at Theological College.

When popular rugby coach Elisha Elisaia was told he wouldn’t walk again, the faces of all the girls and boys he had coached over the years floated in front of him. He heard the words “I need you to give me more”. He felt he had asked them to give him more and now it was time for him to dig deep and give more.

Matt Hansson does not take “no” for an answer. He’s Australia’s next Pickleball Olympian, in the abled or disabled category.

Petria Cumner is going places - fast!

She is the founder of Stirling and Truffles a company that makes “beautiful sustainable lifestyle accessories”. For her trouble she has been nominated for the worldwide “Women Changing the World Awards” to be held in London in May.

This is an incredible local story that has a lot more to be told in the future.

April is Parkinson’s Awareness month. Megan visited the Toowoomba Parkinson’s Support Group for the third year to hear how they are travelling. She had the privilege of talking to two people who bring nothing but joy to the local group. Sally Andrew takes dance classes and Melissa Forbes instructs the Park ‘n’ Song Choir. Carol Chalmers brings us up to speed with Joe’s progress.

Lee Faulkner’s voice is like a honey drink when your throat is sore. It’s comforting, familiar and soothing. Lee has been the voice of breakfast radio for over 25 years now. Lee made his own demo tapes as a child and always dreamt of being on radio however his lack of confidence kept him away for too many years to count. Hear Lee’s career and personal journey to happiness and success.

Frances Holmes has one way of living life, it's the right way! She has hosted a lunch for 20 years for people who are alone on Christmas Day. Originally from Iran, her daughter describes her this way "the fiery, motherly, sensitive, colourful and kind Persian Sass Queen". Frances likes Eleanor Roosevelt's saying "The purpose of life, after all is to live".